Exit-lighting system



Nov. 29, 192 7.

R. T. WILLIAMS EXIT LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 3, 192.6

KSPSB ltww N Amm@ Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED sTATEs 1,656,676 PATENT OFFICE RALPH T. WILLIAMS, F CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BOTH BROTHERS rCO., 0F

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

EXIT-LIGHTm G SYSTEM.

Application led December 3, 1926. Serial No. 152,443,"4

This invention relates to an electric lighting system particularlysuitable. for exit lights of theatres and the like.

'lhe main objects of this invention are to provide an electric lightingsystem which has la main source of current supply such asfthe main housecircuit and an auxiliary source of current in the form-of a storagebattery for supplying current to the exit lights when the current fromthe main house circuit fails; and to provide in a system of this kind,automatic means .for controlling and regulating thev operation of thevarious switches inthe different circuits. Y

A diagrammatic illustration of Vthis system is shown in the accompanyingdrawing.

In the diagram shown in the drawing, a main house circuit 1 is shownprovided with a manually operated mainline switch 2 having conductors 3leading to a normally open triple point contact switch 4 and conductors5 leading to a normally open double point contact switch 6 and thence tothe primary winding 7 of a transformer A. The secondarywinding 8 ofthetransformer A is provided with conductors 9- which lead to a doublepoint, double throw switch 10 which is normally held open with respectto the main circuit by suitable means such as coil springs 11. Switch 10is arranged to be closed on the main circuit 9 by a magnet relay 12, thecoil 1 3 ofwhich is included in a shunt circuit 14 bridged on the maincircuit at 15, so that when current is passed over the main circuit, therelay magnet will close the switch 10 at the points 16. A switch 17 iscarried by the magnet relay 12 and is arranged to close a signal circuit18 which includes a lamp 19 for indicating that the switch is closed onthe main circuit.

The switch 10 is connected to the exit lighting or lamp circuit 20 whichhas a normally open switch 21 therein. The closing of the switch 2l iscontrolled by a magnet relay 22, the circuit of which will be describedlater. Y

An auxiliary circuit is also providedfor supplying current to thelighting circuit 20 and comprises a pair of conductors 23 which lead toa storage battery 24, preferably of 32 volt, .and which is suitablyprotected by fuses 25. An ammeter 26 with zero center, is included inthe auxiliary circuit 23 to show Y the rate of charge and discharge ofthe battery 24.

l Another signal circuit 27 which includes aA lamp-28A is provided forindicating that the auxiliary circuit 23 is supplying current to thelighting circuit and is controlled by a magnet'relay switch 29, the coil30 of which is included inthe auxiliary circuit 23. The switch 29 isnormally open and is arranged to be closed when current passing throughthe auxiliary circuit 23 energizes the magnet coil 30.

The normally open main circuit switch 6 is closed by a magnet relay 31,the coil 32 of which is included in a shunt circuit, comprising aconductor 33 attached at 34 to one side of the auxiliary circuit 23 anda conductor 35 leading to a manual control switch 36 thence by aconductor 37 to the other side of the auxiliary circuit 23. The normallyopen lamp circuit switch 2l is adapted to be closed by the magnet relay22 which is actuated by a coil 38, included in a shunt circuitcomprising a conductor`39 attached to one side of the auxiliarycircuit23 at 34, and a conductor 40 which leads to conductor 35 thence. throughmanual control switch 36, and conductor 37 to the other side ofauxiliary circuit 23.

Means are provided forindicating when the storage battery 24 fails orhas an abnormally low current and comprises a shunt circuit 41 bridgedon the auxiliary circuit 23 and which includes a coil 42 for normallyholding open a relay switch 43. Insufficient current passing over thecircuit 41, permits the switch 43 to close and completes an alarm bellcircuit comprising conductors 44 which lead to the secondary winding 45of a transformer B and to an alarm hell 46. Primary' winding 47 of thistransformer is provided with condu ".tors 48 for bridging on to the mainhouse crcuit.

The triple point switch 4 is normally open and may be closed by a magnetrela the coil 49 of which is attached to con uctor 50 which leads to oneside of battery 24 at 51 and to another conductor 52 which leads to anautomatic time switch 53 and thence by conductor 54 to the other side cfthe battery 24 at 55. The operation of the automatic time switch 53 iscontrolled by current supplied through conductors 56 which are bridgedto the main house circuit. 'The relay coil 49 is also controlled by acircuit which leads through a conductor 57 connected to one side of thelamp circuit at 58 so that when the auxiliary circuit 23 is supplyingcurrent to the lamp circuit, the coil 49 will be energized and theswitch 4 closed. Closing the switch 4 completes the circuit throughconductors 59 to a motor-generator set 60 which is adapted to charge thestorage battery 24. Conductors 61 leading from the motor-generator .setto the battery 24 have included therein a reverse current relay 62 ofusual design for opening the circuit and preventing the battery frombeing drained when the motor-generator set is not running and alsoincludes an ammeter 63 for showing the rate of charge.

The circuits which control the closing of the main circuit switch 6 andthe lamp circuit switch 21 can also be closed by a normally open testbutton G4, bridged onto the circuits by conductors 65 and 66.

In the operation of the system the main line switch 2 is closed. Thisstarts operation of the automatic time switch 53. The manual controlledswitch 36, which may be located in a theatre lobby or other suitableplace, is then closed and this co'mpletes the circuits through themagnet relay switches 6 and 21, allowing current to How to the primarywinding 7 of transformer A, the secondary current passing throughconductors 9, shunt circuit 14 and coil winding 13, thereby closing theswitch 10 on the main circuit side and thus permitting the current topass to the lamp circuit 20. The closing of the switch 10 also closesthe switch 17 and completes the circuit through the conductors 18 to thesignal lamp 19.

-Upon failure of the transformer A or upon failure of current to besupplied to the main circuit, the magnet coil 13 will be deenergized andthe springs 11 will open the switch on the main current side and closethe said switch on the auxiliary circuit 23 thus permitting theauxiliary circuit 23 to supply the current to the lamp circuit 20. Thepassing of the current through conductors 23 energizes coil 30 closingswitch 29 thus completing the circuit through conductors 27 to thesignal lamp 28, the signal lamp 19 having gone out when the switch 10opened from the main circuit side.

The current being supplied from the auxiliary circuit 23 to the lampcircuit 2O also completes the circuit through conductors 57, relay coil49 and conductor 5() thus closing the switch 4 and if the cause of thefailure was in the transformer A, the current from the main housecircuit will pass to motorgenerator set 60 and cause the generator tofioat the storage battery 24 as it supplies current to the auxiliarycircuit 23. If, by reason of long continued use, the storage battery 24becomes depleted, the normally open switch 43 will close by reason ofde-energizing of the coil 42 of shunt circuit 41. The closing of switch43 completes the alarm bell circuit 44 and rings the bell 46 if thefailure of the main circuit was on account of the transformer A.

The autolnatic time 'switch 53 is set to start the motor-generator set60 through switch 4 at predetermined intervals and keep it running for adefinite time, regulated in each case to keep the battery up to charge.For emergency charging, the time switch is provided with a short circuitswitch (not shown) by which the motor-generator set may be started andkept running as long as desired.

In some installations, it is desirable to have a visual signal toindicate the state of charge of the storage battery 24, and in suchcases a volt meter 72, preferably located on the instrument board, isprovided and is bridged tothe batteiy circuit 23 by conductors and 71.

Although but one specific set of controlled circuits has been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that numerous modificationsmay be made without departing from the spirit of this invent-ion asdefined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an electric lighting system, a lamp circuit, a normally openswitch in said circuit, a main circuit, a normally open switch in saidmain circuit, means controlled by current from said main circuit forconnecting said main circuit with said lamp circuit, an auxiliarycircuit, automatic means foi.` connecting said auxiliary circuit withsaid lamp circuit upon failure of said main circuit to supply currentand means operated by current from said auxiliary circuit for closingsaid main circuit switch and said lamp circuit switch.

2. In an electric lighting system, a lamp circuit, a normally openswitch in said circuit, a main circuit, a normally open switch in saidmain circuit, means controlled by current from said main circuit forconnecting said main circuit with said lamp circuit, an auxiliarycircuit, automatic means for connecting said auxiliary circuit with saidlamp circuit upon failure of said main circuit to supply current, meansoperated by current from said auxiliary circuit for closing said maincircuit switch and said lamp circuit switch. and a manually operate-dswitch for controlling said switch closing means.

3. In an electric lighting system, a lamp circuit, a normally openswitch in said circuit, a main circuit, a normally open switch in saidmain circuit, means controlled by current from said main circuit forconnecting said main circuit with said lamp circuit, an auxiliarycircuit, automatic means for connecting said auxiliary circuit with saidlamp circuit upon failure of said main circuit to supply current, meansoperated by current from said auxiliary circuit for closing said maincircuit switch and said lamp circuit switch, a normally open alarm bellcircuit and means operated by the failure of said auxiliary circuit tosupply current for closing said alarm bell circuit.

4. In an electric lighting system, a lamp circuit, a normally openswitch in said circuit, a main circuit, a normally open switch in saidmain circuit, means controlled by current from said main circuit forconnecting said main circuit with said lamp circuit, an auxiliarycircuit, automatic means for connecting said auxiliary circuit with saidlamp circuit upon failure of said main circuit to supply current, meansoperated by current from said auxiliary circuit for closing said maincircuit switch and said lamp circuit switch and a signal light circuitarranged to be closed when said main circuit is supplying current tosaid lamp circuit.

5. In an electric lighting system, a lamp circuit, a normally openswitch in said circuit, a lnain circuit, a normally open switch in saidmain circuit, means controlled by current from said main circuit forconnecting said main circuit with said lamp circuit, an auxiliarycircuit, automatic means for connecting said auxiliary circuit with saidlamp circuit upon failure of said main circuit to supply current, meansoperated by current from said auxiliary circuit for closing said maincircuit switch and said lamp circuit switch, and a signal light circuitarranged to be closed when said main circuit is supplying current tosaid lamp circuit.

6. In an electric lighting system, a lamp circuit, a normally openswitch in said circuit, a main circuit,'a normally open switch in saidmain circuit, means controlled by current from said main circuit forconnecting said main circuit with said lamp circuit, an auxiliarycircuit, automatic means for connecting said auxiliary circuit with saidlamp circuit upon failure of said main circuit to supply current, meansoperated by current from said auxiliary circuit fol closing said maincircuit switch and said lamp circuit switch, a storage battery forsupplying current to said auxiliary circuit, a motor-generator set forcharging said battery and means operated by current from said storagebattery or by current from said main circuit for connecting saidmotor-generator set to said main circuit.

7. In an electric lighting system, a lamp circuit, a normally openswitch in said circuit, a main circuit, a normally open switch in saidmain circuit, means controlled by current from said main circuit forconnecting said main circuit with said lamp circuit, an auxiliarycircuit, automatic means for connecting said auxiliary circuit with saidlamp circuit upon failure of said main circuit to supply current, meansoperated by current from said auxiliary circuit for closing said maincircuit switch and said lamp circuit switch, a storage battery forsupplying current to said auxiliary circuit, a motor-generator set forcharging said storage-battery, a normally open motor-generator switch,means operated by current from said battery or by current from said mainciicuit, for closing said switch, and an automatic time switch forcontrolling Said switch operating means.

8. In an electric lighting system, a lamp circuit, a normally openswitch in said circuit, a main circuit, a normally open switch in saidmain circuit, means controlled by current from said main circuit forconnecting said main circuit with said lamp circuit, an auxiliarycircuit, automatic means for connecting said auxiliary circuit with saidlamp circuit upon failure of said main circuit to supply current, meansoperated by current from said auxiliary circuit for closing said maincircuit switch and said lamp circuit switch, a motor-generator set forsupplying current to said auxiliary circuit and means controlled by acurrent from said auxiliary circuit for operating said motor-generatorset 9. In an electric lighting system, a lamp circuit, a normally openswitch in said circuit, a main circuit, a normally open switch in saidmain circuit, means controlled by current from Said main circuit forconnecting said main circuit with said lamp circuit, an auxiliarycircuit, automatic means for connecting said auxiliary circuit with saidlamp circuit upon failure of said main circuit to supply current, meansoperated by current from said auxiliary circuit. for closing said maincircuit switch and said lanip circuit switch, a motor-generator set forsupplying current to said auxiliary circuit and means effective whensaid auxiliary circuit is Supplying current to said lighting circuit foroperating said motor-generator set.

Signed at Chicago this 30th day of November, 1926.

RALPH T. WILLIAMS.

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